When Windows Vista was launched, the Free Software Foundation started its BadVista campaign, which was aimed at informing users about what the FSF considered user-restrictive features in Vista. Luckily for the FSF, Vista didn't really need a bad-mouthing campaign to fail. Now that Windows 7 is receiving a lot of positive press, the FSF dusted off the BadVista drum, and gave it a fresh coat of paint.

I think it does apply to Microsoft. If you don't use Microsoft products, and they start off on some campaign to bash OSS with, does that make you feel more compelled to use their software? The thing about these kind of fecal dart throwing crusades is that there's never any balance either way, because you know that all one side is going to tell you is exactly what they want you to hear and nothing more.

What the FSF needs to do is drop the politics and show people how they're going to be more productive and get more done using free software. And if that isn't possible, then they've got nothing.